BRASILIA — Leaders of the 11-member BRICS bloc voiced strong opposition to economic protectionism and what they described as “tariff blackmail” during a virtual summit on Monday, convened in response to growing global trade tensions with Washington.
The meeting, initiated by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, sought to address the rise of unilateral trade measures, which members said are undermining global commerce and international cooperation. Collectively, BRICS represents nearly 40 percent of global GDP and almost half the world’s population, giving weight to its criticism of U.S. policies.
Lula denounced what he called “unjustified and illegal” practices, warning that punitive tariffs were increasingly being used as tools of political interference. “Tariff blackmail is being normalized as an instrument to conquer markets and interfere in domestic affairs,” he told fellow leaders.
China’s President Xi Jinping echoed the concern, urging members to defend multilateralism and strengthen the World Trade Organization as the cornerstone of global trade. “We must reject all forms of protectionism,” Xi said, calling on nations to stand against unilateral pressure.
The remarks came as Brazil’s exports to the U.S. plunged by 18.5 percent in August, following Washington’s decision to impose tariffs of up to 50 percent on a range of Brazilian goods. U.S. President Donald Trump framed the move as retaliation for what he described as a “witch hunt” against former Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro, who faces trial for allegedly plotting to overturn the results of the 2022 election. A verdict in that case is expected this week.
India has also faced U.S. tariff measures, with Washington accusing New Delhi of indirectly supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine through discounted oil purchases. Tariffs of up to 50 percent were levied on certain Indian imports earlier this year.
Russian President Vladimir Putin joined the summit fresh from high-level talks in China with Xi, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, and India’s Narendra Modi. During those discussions, regional leaders condemned “bullying behavior,” a thinly veiled reference to Washington’s trade and foreign policy tactics.
Together, the BRICS leaders signaled a united front against what they see as growing U.S. economic coercion, underscoring their push for a more balanced, multipolar system of global governance.
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